English version below
Die skrikbewind wat minibus-taxiverenigings op openbare paaie in Mpumalanga voer om die absolute monopolie oor vervoersdienste, is skokkend en onaanvaarbaar en die VF Plus eis optrede op die hoogste vlak.
Uit videomateriaal in die party se besit, kan duidelik gesien word hoe persone wat klaarblyklik optree as “sekerheidsdienste” of sterkmanne vir die taxi-verenigings, motoriste intimideer en dreig.
Motors word selfs van die pad gedwing waarna betalings of sogenaamde “boetes” geëis word. Die VF Plus het baie klagtes in dié verband ontvang en die TV-kanaal Newzroom Africa het ook reeds breedvoerig daaroor berig.
Tog blyk dit of die owerhede voete sleep met optrede. Tot op hede het die polisie nog niemand in hegtenis geneem nie en die VF Plus het verlede week die provinsie se LUR vir gemeenskapsveiligheid, mnr. Jackie Macie, in die provinsiale wetgewer versoek om op te tree.
Mnr. Macie het erken dat hy bewus is van die “toenemende probleem” en het onderneem om ʼn dringende ondersoek van stapel te stuur.
Hoe arrogant die oortreders is, blyk uit die uitlatings op TV van die voorsitter van die Suid-Afrikaanse Nasionale Taxiraad (Santaco) in Mpumalanga, mnr. Fanyana Sibanyoni, dat die vereniging “die reg het” om enige motoris te stop en te verhinder om saamrygeleenthede te gee indien dit op ʼn taxiroete plaasvind.
Die VF Plus het videomateriaal van ʼn voorval op die N4-hoofweg naby Ogies waar gesien kan word hoe ʼn motoris in ʼn lewensgevaarlike situasie van die pad gedwing word.
ʼn Ander selfoonopname wys hoe dieselfde of ʼn soortgelyke “taxi-patrolliemotor” in nog ʼn voorval probeer om ʼn Chevrolet-motor tot stilstand te dwing.
In ʼn verwante voorval is ʼn persoon wat sy buurman glo ’n saamrygeleentheid gegee het, van sy motor beroof. Die aanvallers het na bewering geëis dat hy ’n “boete” van R2 500 betaal om sy motor terug te kry en hy is gewaarsku om nie weer saamrygeleenthede te gee nie.
Kol. Donald Mdhluli, polisiewoordvoerder in Mpumalanga, het bevestig dat hy wel van sekere voorvalle bewus is en dat ‘n saak van kaping in die laaste voorval ondersoek word. Niemand is nog in hegtenis geneem nie.
Dit is vir die VF Plus onaanvaarbaar dat daar nie reeds daadwerklik opgetree is nie. Die polisie het ʼn goeie idee wie die oortreders is, daar is videomateriaal en ooggetuies beskikbaar en Santaco se dreigemente is openlik.
Tog is nog niemand nog aangekeer nie en die LUR beloof eers optrede nadat hy met die feite gekonfronteer word.
Dit is skokkend dat wettelose elemente ʼn skrikbewind op die provinsie se paaie voer terwyl die owerhede dit klaarblyklik swyend gade slaan. Die VF Plus sal die situasie volg om seker te maak daar word opgetree om dié wetteloosheid stop te sit.
English version (Google Translate)
The reign of terror that minibus taxi associations are waging on public roads in Mpumalanga for the absolute monopoly over transport services is shocking and unacceptable and the FF Plus demands action at the highest level.
From video material in the party’s possession, it can be clearly seen how persons who apparently act as “security services” or strongmen for the taxi associations, intimidate and threaten motorists.
Cars are even forced off the road after which payments or so-called “fines” are demanded.
The FF Plus has received many complaints in this regard and the TV channel Newzroom Africa has also already reported on it in detail. Yet the authorities appear to be dragging their feet in taking action.
To date, the police have not arrested anyone and the FF Plus last week the province’s MEC for community safety, Mr. Jackie Macie, in the provincial legislature requested to act. Mr. Macie admitted that he was aware of the “growing problem” and undertook to launch an urgent investigation.
How arrogant the perpetrators are is evident from the statements on TV of the chairman of the South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) in Mpumalanga, Mr. Fanyana Sibanyoni, that the association “has the right” to stop and prevent any motorist from giving carpooling opportunities if it takes place on a taxi route.
The FF Plus has video footage of an incident on the N4 highway near Ogies where a motorist can be seen being forced off the road in a life-threatening situation.
Another mobile phone recording shows how the same or a similar “taxi patrol car” tries to force a Chevrolet car to stop in another incident.
In a related incident, a person who apparently gave his neighbour a ride was robbed of his car. The attackers allegedly demanded that he pay a “fine” of R2 500 to get his car back and he was warned not to give carpooling opportunities again.
Col. Donald Mdhluli, a police spokesperson in Mpumalanga, confirmed that he is indeed aware of certain incidents and that a case of hijacking is being investigated in the last incident. No one has been arrested yet.
It is unacceptable for the FF Plus that action has not already been taken. The police have a good idea who the perpetrators are, there is video footage and eyewitnesses available and Santaco’s threats are open.
However, no one has been arrested yet and the MEC only promises action after being confronted with the facts.
It is shocking that lawless elements are running a reign of terror on the province’s roads while the authorities are apparently silently watching. The FF Plus will follow the situation to make sure that action is taken to stop this lawlessness.
